1. A favourable fixture list
LIVERPOOL HAVE THE second best home record in the Premier League and still have Manchester City (18 points dropped on the road) and Chelsea (20 points dropped on the road) to visit Anfield.
On top of that, only Arsenal have a better record against teams in the bottom half of the table having won 12 of 15 such fixtures and losing just one. With five more games of this type to come — including three against teams currently in the bottom four — the Reds will be hoping to finish the season with 23-27 points from nine games.
23 will put them on 85 points which has only been enough to win the title once in the last five years but given that it involves taking points off two of their closest rivals, it could well be enough this year.
2. Fresher players
Having no European football turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Brendan Rodgers’ men this year, especially after they fell at the first hurdle in the League Cup back in September too.
Having only played 34 games in all competitions this season, a figure Chelsea (48), Manchester City (46) and Arsenal (45) reached way back on January 18, there’s no doubt which of the title challengers come in with the fresher legs.
Added to the fact Chelsea and Arsenal still have distractions other than the Premier League and it’s yet another pointer in favour of a Liverpool title challenge.
3. Suarez and Sturridge
Liverpool have bagged 76 goals in the league this year and scored five goals twice as often (four times) as they have scored none. Their average of 2.62 goals per game is only bettered by Manchester City (2.63).
A huge part of their success in front of goal has been down to Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge who between them have found the back of the net 43 times in the league, more than the total scored by all bar four other teams.
SAS also have a combined 16 assists too so if Brendan Rodgers can keep his star strikers healthy for the run in, Liverpool could well score 100 goals this season.
4. Dead ball usage
It’s a statistic that was boosted by some calamitous Manchester United defending last weekend but no team has scored as many goals from dead balls this year as the Reds.
17 of those have come from set pieces with a further eight dispatched from the penalty spot. That figure is double the next best (Chelsea, Spurs, Sunderland and Crystal Place) with six of them coming away from Anfield.
5. Momentum
No team enters the final stretch of the season in better form than Liverpool. They’ve won five games in a row and haven’t tasted defeat in the league since back-to-back 2-1 defeats to Chelsea and Manchester City — both away — between Christmas and New Year.
Since then, their form guide reads played 10, won eight, drawn two. That compares favourably to Manchester City (W8, L1, D1), Chelsea (W7, D2, L1) and Arsenal (W6, D2, L2).
So, what to you think. Can Liverpool bridge a 24-year gap and win the Premier League? Let us know in the comments below.
Note: We’ll be making the case for each team in the top four over the next two days.
As supporters of our beloved LFC let’s enjoy our good run and be satisfied whereever we finish this year — things are improving greatly and we can build on this
Its on!!!
Our year!!!
I’m a Chelsea fan and if we are not to win it then I hope it’s Liverpool.
Big club with great tradition that’s been on its knees for far far to long.
Great credit has to go to Rodgers who remember was ridiculed as the premier leagues “David Brent”
Well he’s shown a great amount of personal strength to not sacrifice his footballing philosophy in order to gain short term results and wasn’t bullied by Suarez or the media into selling his star player.
A move in which he has won admiration from his other players and Suarez himself I believe.
Wouldn’t it be just brilliant if they do ! Im allowed dream and these past few months have been great and it just seems to be getting better and better ! Rodgers we love you .
Having had so many false dawns over the past 2 and a half decades or so I do fear that all this expectation will be for nothing . Again . And it will just lead to a bigger disappointment.
However tho with each passing game it’s getting harder and harder to ignore and just being in the race has been a joy to behold, he’ll just being back amongst the soccer conversation has been brilliant.
Without doubt this has been the best season I’ve experienced in this 24 years, ‘pool being up, Utd being down, the only think that can top it off will be lifting the trophy at home against Newcastle on the last day.
Dare to dream ?
This is Liverpools best chance to win the league with no European distractions. I was hoping at start for top 4. But with the run in we have and if we keep everyone fit, surely they have a great chance. Dare to dream!
West ham away… #Dodge #bananaskin
Ahh Brad no need for such negativity!
Allan..We’ve won 5 on the spin.. Just don’t see us winning 14 in a row which is probably what we’d have to do.. At least we are in the title race which is enjoyable!! Ps keep ur comments for golf course tomoro!!
There is one reason Liverpool can win the title this year, Suarez. Simply the best player in the premiership by a mile this year. And I’m an arsenal fan, but I’d like to see Liverpool win it before the other shower, as arsenal won’t.
25 years anniversary post Hillsborough, do you believe in faith & spirits???
Don’t be jinx’n LFC.
Dreaming of winning it but will be happy with top 4 which is pretty secure. Cant want top 4 as a target and then give out if we don’t win.
Super article. Love the stats